Broadcast Package: American Fork bridge construction

(((CONNIE)))

          PEOPLE ARE GATHERING IN AMERICAN FORK TONIGHT TO SEE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS MOVE A NEW BRIDGE OVER INTERSTATE 15.

          KSL’S JIM BRITTON GIVES US DETAILS ON THIS MOVE.

(((JIM)))

          CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE MOVING TWO NEW BRIDGE SPANS TONIGHT NEAR AMERICAN FORK’S WEST MAIN STREET FREEWAY INTERCHANGE.

          CITIZENS CAN WATCH THE MOVE FROM THE EXISTING MAIN STREET BRIDGE, AND PARKING IS AVAILABLE AT THE PARK-AND-RIDE LOT SOUTHWEST OF THE INTERCHANGE.

(((PKG)))

(((NAT SOUND OF CRANES)))

          THE TWO BRIDGE SPANS EACH WEIGH 2,000 TONS AND ARE THE LONGEST AND HEAVIEST CONCRETE BRIDGES TO BE MOVED WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES.

          ACCELERATED BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION CUTS DOWN ON CONSTRUCTION TIME, HELPING BOTH THE WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC.

(((SOT)))

Time code: Tape # 1 2:48 “It really lessens the time we have to inconvenience the public and saves us time and money on the project as well.” 12:53

CG (name super) = Scott Thompson - UDot Spokesperson 

RUNS: 0:05

Fact # 1

          USUALLY A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LIKE THIS WOULD TAKE DAYS AND DISRUPT TRAFFIC FLOW SIGNIFICANTLY.

          THE EXISTING MAIN STREET BRIDGE IS CLOSED FOR SAFETY REASONS BUT WILL RE-OPEN AS SOON AS EACH BRIDGE SPAN IS IN PLACE. 

(((NAT SOUND UP OF BACK-UP BEEPS)))

Fact # 2

          EVEN THOUGH THE BRIDGE ACCELERATION SPEEDS THE CONSTRUCTION TIME, IT POSES RISKS AS WELL.

(((SOT)))

Time Code: 1: 1:53 “Just making sure the bridge maintains its stability throughout the whole move is the thing they worry about the most. Any, anything off one way or another, we’ll have to stop and make sure everything’s okay, there’s not any cracking or structural issues. Structural integrity is the big thing with something this, this massive .” 2:11

CG (name super) = Scott Thompson, UDOT Spokesperson 

RUNS: 0:18

Fact # 3

          CONSTRUCTION BEGAN AT 10 TONIGHT AND IS EXPECTED TO RUN THROUGH TWO OR THREE TOMORROW MORNING.

          MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE GATHERING TO WATCH CONSTRUCTION WORKERS MOVE THE BRIDGE SPANS INTO PLACE.

(((SOT)))

Time Code: Tape # 1 0:05 “It’ll be really cool to see as they inch it across as the whole hydraulic system moves and the wheels turn and rotate to be the right direction and

stuff.” 0:15 

CG (Name super) = (None)

RUNS: 0:10

Fact # 4

          THE BRIDGE PLACEMENT IS PART OF A NEW ROAD DESIGN CALLED THE DIVERGING DIAMOND, WHICH HELPS INCREASING TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE.

(((SOT)))

Time Code: Tape # 1 3:16 “The traffic models are such now that our current roads don’t meet future traffic needs, so what we’re trying to do is build more capacity

for more traffic.” 3:24 

CG (Name super) Scott Thompson – UDot Spokesperson

RUNS: 0:08

(((JIM)))

          THE DIVERGING DIAMOND DESIGN IS THE FIRST TO BE BUILT IN UTAH AND THE SECOND IN OF ITS DESIGN IN THE NATION.

          I’M KSL’S JIM BRITTON. BACK TO YOU...CONNIE.

(((CONNIE)))

          THANK YOU JIM...THAT IS A GREAT ENGINEERING FEAT.

**This broadcast package was written for a BYU media writing class, Winter 2011 semester.